Sun sets on another summer festival

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CARY – The economy has claimed its latest festival victim.

After about 15 years, Cary Days, typically held at the end of June or in early July at Lions Park, will not happen this year.

Gail Overstreet-Williams, chapter management vice president for Cary-Grove Jaycees, blamed decreased attendance and rising event costs.

“The financial aspect is really what kind of did us in,” Overstreet-Williams said. “It’s heartbreaking.”

The festival is the latest in a string of summer events called off for monetary reasons. Woodstock’s Dick Tracy Days, the Crystal Lake Gala, and the Lake in the Hills Air Expo were discontinued because of financial strains.

Overstreet-WIlliams said organizers tried to ask the village for help with costs for things such as fireworks, police coverage and park fees, but were told there wasn’t room in the budget.

“We have actually taken a loss on Cary Days in the last few years, and our requests for assistan and support from the ‘powers that be’ in Cary were denied,” Overstreet-Williams said in a news release.

Cary Village President Tom Kierna said he was disappointed to see the event end, but declined to comment on the village’s involvement in funding and in-kind contributions.

Overstreet-Williams said the Jaycees did not have any definite plans to bring Cary Days back.

“We would be interested in doing it again if we could find a way to work out the expenses,” she said.

However, the Cary Park District plans to hold a one-day event July 3 that will feature fireworks and a family picnic to compensate for the loss of the festival.

“I’m happy that we’re having some type of celebration,” Kierna said. “Would I like to see more? Yes. But that’s something that takes a great deal of planning, and that starts a year in advance.”

Cary Days was created as a fundraiser for the Jaycees. The group used the money to pay for other events and programs, such as the Fishing Derby, Easter egg hunt and women’s self-defense classes.

There are hopes that another now-defunct area summer event will be revived in the future, but not immediately.

LITH Air Expo organizers had hoped to bring their event back, but they now face another hurdle; construction at the airport means it will be a few years before the expo returns, said T.J. Moore, airport manager.

“We’re excited about bringing it back; it’s a great event in the community,” he said. “It’s something that we are thinking about and do want to resurrect.”